As Youth Day was celebrated nationwide, the Mbekweni Unemployment Forum (MUF) was launched at the G-block Public Park on Thursday 16 June.
“Unemployment is one of the challenges that currently holds our communities hostage to their circumstances, particularly youth unemployment,” says the forum’s coordinator Sindile Gravel.
The launch was made possible by the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), in association with Gravel, who serves as a proportional representative for the Drakenstein Municipality.
“The forum’s objective is to deal with youth-related issues by mobilising young people, and particularly on occasions such as this that are dedicated to them,” he explained. “It is our strong assertion that there is direct link among poverty, unemployment and inequality, which are the driving forces of crime.”
He said it is important for all to come together and deal with unemployment as a community. This sentiment was shared by the forum’s chairperson, Ntombekhaya Tyansti.
As for the forum’s function, she says it’s based on the approach “for the people, by the people”.
“We had our first official meeting in the week following Youth Day where we established ways forward. We invite the community to submit letters indicating their concerns and the particular challenges they face, which will serve as a guideline for what the forum can also offer as we grow.”
The prime function is to upskill people and entrepreneurs, either to employ themselves or become even more skilled in their existing trades to be sourced by potential employers.”
The launch was attended by speakers such as local entrepreneur Sisa Johnson and a labour consultant originally from Mbekweni, Tommy Bangani. This included recruitment services who offer their expertise to help job seekers create a proper CV, learn how to write emails to potential employers and interview training.
“We are available to serve and have audiences in various sectors with a wide network related to jobs, skills and entrepreneurship,” said Tyansti.
Gravel points to the dire reality currently faced in South Africa, and especially the Drakenstein Valley.
“The current unemployment rate is more than 30%, with youth unemployment making up more than 50% of that statistic,” he said. “Here in Drakenstein, for example, the last census report showed women and young people are the most affected group. Unemployment causes inequality, which trickles down to increasing crime. It is our strong belief that it is in the best interest of all to work together in addressing this social challenge. MUF does not guarantee employment, but offers the right help to take steps in the right direction.”
The forum calls on local businesspeople to approach them to help realise its objective. For more, contact Gravel on 068 385 9444, or Tyansti on 081 376 1300.
